At a Glance
- Tasks: Lead innovative support services for veterans, ensuring their voices shape our care.
- Company: Join Combat Stress, the UK's leading mental health charity for veterans.
- Benefits: Enjoy 30 days annual leave, flexible working, and a competitive pension scheme.
- Other info: Home-based role with opportunities for national travel and career growth.
- Why this job: Make a real difference in veterans' lives while developing your leadership skills.
- Qualifications: Experience in health or social care leadership and a passion for veteran support.
The predicted salary is between 66546 - 76950 £ per year.
As Head of Engagement and Social Care, you will provide strategic leadership for our national Peer Support, Family Support, Safeguarding, and Co-production functions. You'll ensure our services are innovative, effective and deliver the highest standards of care, while championing safeguarding excellence across the organisation.
Main duties of the job:
- Lead the strategic development, delivery and evaluation of our national Peer Support and Family Support services.
- Provide organisational leadership for safeguarding, ensuring excellent governance and best practice.
- Champion co-production, ensuring veterans' voices are central to service design and development.
- Build and maintain strong partnerships with organisations across the military, health and charity sectors.
- Lead the development of integrated care pathways that provide seamless support for veterans.
- Line manage and mentor senior service managers and the Veteran Engagement Officer, supporting high-performing teams.
- Promote innovation, evidence-based practice and continuous service improvement.
- Oversee audits, quality assurance, service evaluation and reporting to support strategic decision-making.
- Contribute to organisational strategy as a member of the senior leadership team.
About you:
We're looking for a compassionate and experienced leader who combines strategic thinking with a passion for improving services for veterans and their families. You'll bring:
- Significant leadership experience within health, social care, charity or related sectors.
- Experience leading multidisciplinary teams and developing high-quality services.
- Strong knowledge of safeguarding, governance and quality assurance.
- Excellent relationship-building and partnership development skills.
- Experience influencing strategy and driving organisational change.
- A collaborative leadership style with the ability to inspire, coach and develop others.
- A commitment to evidence-based practice, innovation and continuous improvement.
This role will be subject to a DBS / PVG / ACCESS NI check.
What we offer:
You will work within a reputable charity that is constantly evolving to meet the needs of our veterans, that has a fantastic cause and a committed follower base.
Benefits:
- 30 days annual leave plus bank holidays and an additional increase to 33 days annual leave upon 10 years continuous service, plus bank holidays.
- Competitive stakeholder pension scheme - contributions matched up to 11% of salary.
- Discount shopping vouchers.
- Access to the Employee Assistance Programme.
- Flexible working.
- Access to Blue Light Card scheme.
- Death in Service Scheme.
How to apply:
Thank you for your interest in working for Combat Stress. If your application is shortlisted, one of the team will contact you shortly after the closing date to let you know the next steps. Please be aware that due to the high volume of applications we receive, we are unable to respond to all applicants. If you do not hear from the team within 3 weeks of the closing date, we will not be taking your application further on this occasion.
Closing date: Monday 31 August 2026
Interview date: Interviews will be held in person at our Head Office in Leatherhead, Surrey, KT22 0BX on 14 or 15 September 2026.
Head of Engagement & Social Care in Surrey employer: National health service
The London Ambulance Service NHS Trust is an exceptional employer, offering a dynamic work environment that prioritises patient safety and service improvement. With a strong commitment to employee development, including leadership training and apprenticeship programmes, staff are empowered to grow their skills while contributing to the health of London. The Trust's inclusive culture and focus on quality management ensure that employees feel valued and supported in their vital roles.
StudySmarter Expert Advice🤫
We think this is how you could land Head of Engagement & Social Care in Surrey
✨Dive into Local Community Groups
Social work thrives on community connections, so get involved in local groups or forums specific to your interests. Whether it’s volunteering at local shelters or joining community action boards, these are great ways to boost your visibility and make direct contacts that could lead to opportunities like the one at National health service.
✨Attend Social Work Events and Workshops
Keep an eye out for workshops, seminars, or conferences in social work. These events are fantastic for meeting professionals in the field, learning about emerging trends, and spotting job openings. Plus, you might just bump into someone from National health service!
✨Showcase Your Passion and Expertise
Use platforms like Instagram or LinkedIn to share your journey and insights into the social work sector. Whether it’s writing about your experiences or sharing relevant articles, this helps to establish you as an engaged professional. Potential employers, like National health service, will notice your enthusiasm!
✨Leverage Your Network
Don’t hesitate to reach out to professors, mentors, or even past colleagues who are in social work. They might have inside knowledge about openings at National health service or be able to connect you with someone who’s hiring. Networking is key, especially in a full-time role where relationships matter.
We think you need these skills to ace Head of Engagement & Social Care in Surrey
Some tips for your application 🫡
Show Your Passion for Social Work:In your cover letter, let us see your passion for social work shine through! Talk about the experiences that made you want to pursue this career—whether it’s volunteering, personal experiences, or academic projects. We want to know why this field matters to you.
Emphasise Relevant Qualifications:Make sure your CV highlights any relevant qualifications, like degrees in social work or certifications like a DBS check. If you've done any workshops or training, don’t forget to include those as well. We're keen to see your commitment to your professional development!
Detail Your Experience with Clients:Since this is a hands-on field, detailing any direct experience you have with clients is crucial. Whether it's internships, volunteer roles, or previous jobs, highlight those experiences in your CV to show us you've got the practical skills necessary for the job!
Tailor Your Application to National health service:Before hitting send, make sure to tailor your application specifically to National health service! Research our mission and values, and refer to them in your cover letter. This shows us that you understand our work and are genuinely interested in being a part of our team!
How to prepare for a job interview at National health service
✨Understanding the Role of Empathy
In social work, understanding and demonstrating empathy is key. Be prepared to share personal experiences or scenarios where you effectively showed compassion and support. This helps show that you genuinely care about the well-being of others, which is crucial in social work.
✨Demonstrating Knowledge of Frameworks
Familiarise yourself with the frameworks and models used in social work, such as the Strengths-Based Approach or the Ecological Perspective. Be ready to discuss how these frameworks apply to your work, especially if you can tie them into real-world examples or case studies you've encountered.
✨Showcasing Your Multi-Disciplinary Skills
In a full-time social work role, you'll often collaborate with healthcare professionals, educators, and law enforcement. Be prepared to describe your teamwork experiences and how you've effectively communicated with other disciplines to achieve the best outcomes for clients.
✨Preparing for Scenario-Based Questions
Expect questions that put you in hypothetical social work situations, such as dealing with a crisis or managing a complex case. Think through your thought process for these scenarios beforehand, considering how you'd assess the situation and what steps you'd take, as this demonstrates your critical thinking and problem-solving abilities.
